DISEASES OF POULTRY. 207 



to which some soap has been added. When thorough- 

 ly softened the loose scales may be removed without 

 causing bleeding. Or, a coating of soft soap may be 

 applied to the affected parts, leaving it to act for from 

 twelve to twenty-four hours. The legs are then placed 

 in warm water and the scales softened and removed by 

 gentle rubbing and traction. After this has been done 

 the legs are dried and treated with a good coat of 

 Helmerich's ointment, creolin ointment (1 to 10), 

 carbolic ointment (l to 10), or balsam of Peru. The 

 latter may be applied daily for three or four days, and 

 is better adapted than the other remedies to the treat- 

 ment of young or delicate birds, since it is equally 

 efficacious in destroying the mites and has little if any 

 injurious effect upon the birds. The disease is not 

 a difficult one to cure if the preliminary treatment is 

 thorough and the loose scales and crusts are all re- 

 moved. 





